Perhaps you yourself have just been told by your medical doctor that you are unfortunately showing signs of the early onset of dementia.
Instead, maybe your partner, parent of another family member, or close friend has recently been diagnosed with another form of dementia.
Regardless of the motivation behind your research, here is a concise overview of dementia and how it affects the brain.
Dementia: Far from Simple Memory Loss
Often, dementia is thought of by many as simply a prolonged and more serious case of memory loss, but unfortunately, this is just one of the symptoms, with other commonly associated results of dementia including:
• Significant behavioral changes
• Disorientation
• Problems with communication
• Issues pertaining to movement and balance
• Hallucinations and delusion
• Difficulty estimating distances
The Different Forms of Dementia
Another misnomer associated with dementia is that there is only one type, yet in reality, dementia can have a variety of different causes, all connected to damage to the brain in one way or another and produce different forms of dementia as a result.
The four most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's Disease (which is the most common in both the US and the UK), Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.
The umbrella term 'dementia' refers to the signs and symptoms of the disease as a result of one or more conditions.
Dementia and Communication
One of the more obvious signs and symptoms in a person living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia is a breakdown in communication and, more specifically, the individual's inability to read and talk as freely and easily as they once could.
Patience is the key here, both for loved ones around the person with dementia and also for the individual themselves. Most importantly, do remember that dementia affects everyone differently, and it could well be the case that your loved one's dementia may only progress slowly.
Options for Memory Care
There are, of course, several different options for caring for people with dementia in the more advanced stages, and if you are the person who has either recently, or perhaps a few months or years past, been diagnosed with dementia, taking control and reviewing your options is a practical way to help deal with it.
Established and thriving senior living communities also feature facilities for memory care in Burbank that cater specifically to people living with dementia and focus on affording each one of their residents as much freedom and independence as possible.
You Can Help Research Into Dementia
Far from research into not only how dementia develops, but more pertinently, how to treat, prolong cognitive function, and ultimately, of course, a cure, being something you have absolutely no control over as a 'regular' member of the public, there are many ways to help.
From holding fundraisers to donating to your state or even government-sponsored Alzheimer's Society to volunteering to take part in dementia research yourself as a willing participant in one or more studies.
